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Making Lemonade
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
Inside every cloud is a silver lining.
I’ve heard that phrase, or something similar to it, since I was a
child. I’d come home from school complaining about something. I’d go to
grampa complaining that one of my cousins was mean to me (or sometimes
Grampa would give me a tongue-lashing when one of my cousins complained
I was mean to him). I’d go to Mom or Gramma with a skinned knee. Or I’d
moan around the house if it was raining cats and dogs and my planned
baseball game was put on hold… sometimes for days at a time.
After I was given the “lesson” for that particular event, Mom or Dad or
Gramma or Grampa would always say, “Don’t worry, you learned something
today. You may think this was hard or not fair, but it will help you
grow and learn. That’s a good thing.”
Then, of course, I’d hear that phrase that always drove me crazy…
“Inside every cloud is a silver lining” or “Every cloud has a silver
lining” or… whatever!!
Never could find that damn silver lining they kept talking about.
Fast forward about 60 years, plus or minus…
Somehow on Tuesday, I pulled a nerve in my neck. Any attempt to move my
head was excruciating. I managed to get through my two Edison
Darke County classes but had to cancel my evening class in Piqua. No
way was I able to drive safely at that point.
Wednesday was better so I was able to fulfill my sub obligation at
Greenville High School. Then, about 5 p.m., our Internet went down. I
packed up my Mac and headed into town to do the CNO post. It was a long
night. When I got home a little before 11, the Internet was still dead.
Thursday morning… still dead. I headed into town early to start on the
files, then off to class. Fortunately, Kurt, one of our SSSF volunteers
(and our webmaster) did the post at 10; all I had to do was get the
files ready. I managed to get them done by 5. In the meantime, a
pre-recorded message said everything would be hunky-dory by 7 p.m. It
wasn’t.
Friday morning. Still dead. I had a full day assignment at East, so I
headed into town at 6 a.m. to start on the files. After a day of
teaching at a level third graders could understand (which is a blast,
but can be wearing), I headed back to McDonald’s where they now knew me
by name. I was ready to post by 7 but knew I’d have a tough time
waiting until 9:30 or 10 to go online, especially if I had to go back
into town to do it.
Amanda, County News Online’s newest supporter and part-time paginator
(she was one of my paginators at the Advocate) said she would take CNO
live at 10. Not sure we’d have had uninterrupted service without Kurt
and Amanda. My thanks to both.
Our Internet finally came back about 8 p.m. Friday night, but not
without problems. It took nearly an hour and a half to work them out.
Everything – finally – now seems to be in order.
I still hate that “silver lining” stuff; and clouds are not always a
bad thing. For what it’s worth, this last week seemed like a bunch of
lemons dropping out of a tree and I was swimming in them.
Three more things happened...
People I hadn’t seen in months – in some cases a year or more – would
come up while I was working and say hi. One told me I needed to run for
Commissioner again. He said that he’d help in my campaign, even if I
was running as a Republican. He’s a registered Democrat. I thanked him
but advised not likely.
His parting comment: “If you change your mind, let me know. We need you
there.”
Good people, all of them. I enjoyed the conversations… but I have no
plans to run for commissioner again.
Thursday night our granddaughter, Bella, was with us. Typically Papau
can’t play. He’s always working. Thursday night Papau couldn’t work, so
he played with his granddaughter… we had a tea party, Nana and Papau
helped Bella learn how to hold and feed her baby, and sometimes we just
sat there quietly, this precious little child snuggling in Papau’s lap
(she likes to “hold” us), watching one of her favorite shows.
On Friday I took my third grade charges to one of their “Specials” –
art. When they returned, nine of them gave me posters and drawings
they’d made especially for Mr. Robinson.
Seeing old friends and acquaintances warmed my heart. On Thursday
night, Bella melted my heart. A class of third graders on Friday turned
it into putty.
Life can be strange… but that’s what makes it so fascinating and
wonderful. I had a few lemons this week, so I think it only fitting
that they be used for making lemonade.
Don’t you?
That’s My Opinion. What’s Yours?
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